'A key architect of the NFL's 'Rooney Rule' believes British football "has nothing to lose" by adopting a similar regulation. The rule requires teams to interview at least one black or minority ethnic candidate for a head coach vacancy. There are only two black managers in the Premier League and Football League. Dan Rooney, 82, told BBC Radio 5 live: "I would tell British clubs that if they would look at this openly they will find this is a positive thing." Rooney, owner of Pittsburgh Steelers and chairman of the NFL's Workplace Diversity Committee, which proposed the regulation in 2002, says it would open doors for clubs when looking at additional candidates for a job. "The plus side of this is you're increasing your list of people to look at and it would really work. I couldn't recommend it enough for the teams in Britain," he said. "It may take a little bit of work. But it would be a plus to the teams, to the league itself. When you think about it they have nothing to lose."'

I met Michael Johnson the other day, and I was surprised to hear a footballer express such intelligent views on subjects other than football. He was also saying exactly what he says here:

'Former Birmingham and Derby defender Michael Johnson made more than 550 Premier League and Football League appearances in an 18-year playing career. But he told BBC Radio 5 live that since retiring in 2009, and despite having all the necessary qualifications, he had found it impossible to get a job in management. "I'm a pro license qualified coach," he said. "I've gone through a governance course. I'm on the LMA diploma in football management. I can't get any more qualified. "But I've been out of football work in a full-time capacity for three years. "I've sent over 30 CV's of and got two interviews. For me, there's something wrong there."'

'A key architect of the NFL's 'Rooney Rule' believes British football "has nothing to lose" by adopting a similar regulation. The rule requires teams to interview at least one black or minority ethnic candidate for a head coach vacancy. There are only two black managers in the Premier League and Football League. Dan Rooney, 82, told BBC Radio 5 live: "I would tell British clubs that if they would look at this openly they will find this is a positive thing." Rooney, owner of Pittsburgh Steelers and chairman of the NFL's Workplace Diversity Committee, which proposed the regulation in 2002, says it would open doors for clubs when looking at additional candidates for a job. "The plus side of this is you're increasing your list of people to look at and it would really work. I couldn't recommend it enough for the teams in Britain," he said. "It may take a little bit of work. But it would be a plus to the teams, to the league itself. When you think about it they have nothing to lose."'

I met Michael Johnson the other day, and I was surprised to hear a footballer express such intelligent views on subjects other than football. He was also saying exactly what he says here:

'Former Birmingham and Derby defender Michael Johnson made more than 550 Premier League and Football League appearances in an 18-year playing career. But he told BBC Radio 5 live that since retiring in 2009, and despite having all the necessary qualifications, he had found it impossible to get a job in management. "I'm a pro license qualified coach," he said. "I've gone through a governance course. I'm on the LMA diploma in football management. I can't get any more qualified. "But I've been out of football work in a full-time capacity for three years. "I've sent over 30 CV's of and got two interviews. For me, there's something wrong there."'

Maybe Michael Johnson does not get work due his views on homosexuality. Didnt he say his faith meant he believed the bible and that meant "homosexuality is detestable unto the Lord".

Would not be good to have a manager who was homophobic in the current world?

Maybe I cant speak for him adequately, as he runs away from the issues and never engages in substantive debate at any time, but what I know of Mike is a guy that comes from a generation of West Indian people who migrated to the UK at a lesser enlightened time of society. No doubt he has gone through the issues of lack of opportunity, lack of equality and maybe out and out racial hatred and bigotry.

I personally think that clouds Mike's judgement on the issue. I sense there is some quite radical opinion there, and some obvious trust problems. I remember a few years back for instance when he talked about the police and them handling his son at a NYE in London. To me it sounded routine if I can remember the issue correctly, to him it was the continuation of a trend through time for the police to pick on ethnic minorities.

I grew up in a quite left wing, extremely social libertarian area of the UK, so I guess maybe its me who's rather romantic view on personal freedoms and equality doesn't transfer to real UK life, but as an adult in modern Britain, I never thought of race as playing much of a noticeable issue. Obviously in isolated areas, you get racist people, and therefore to say its non-existent is wrong.

But in a sport dominated by foreign talent? By a sport dominated at its highest level by foreign ownership, where hardly anyone is white English?? On such a wide scale? That is a huge accusation to make, the scale is just impossible to fathom. In order to impose such a radical process as the Rooney Rule, there has to be more than heresay. There has to be evidence to these almost unfathomable accusations!! I mean, does any type of industry have more of a percentage of foreign talent then UK sport? To say that football has, to its core, a racial issue when 30% of English players are home grown, sorry, doesn't cut as an argument. A lot of these players are black as well, much higher in proportion to their number in general society. How would up to 80% of players who are non-English white function in such a rotten racist core?

If there was evidence, I would be all for it. I cant get passed the point that this is an argument that is attempting to gain extra opportunity at the cost of true merit, for the benefit of one type of person. That is unjust.

I would happily change my opinion in the event that contrary evidence came about.

Last edited by sussexpob on Fri Nov 14, 2014 2:06 pm, edited 2 times in total.

There's always a possibility that Michael Johnson's CV doesn't fit the criteria for alot of the appointments he applies for and there's always the possibility that he doesn't interview very well, and there's always the possibility that there are white guys with exactly the same qualifications as him getting the same number of rejections as him.

budgetmeansbudget wrote:There's always a possibility that Michael Johnson's CV doesn't fit the criteria for alot of the appointments he applies for and there's always the possibility that he doesn't interview very well, and there's always the possibility that there are white guys with exactly the same qualifications as him getting the same number of rejections as him.

Well it certainly wasn't racism that kicked him out a job at Notts County, like he thinks. The same chairman who sacked him also appointed Chris Kiwomya, Paul Ince, Keith Curle and gave Johnson a caretaker shot at the job before they released him.

"Chris Hughton is the new manager of Brighton after agreeing a three-and-a-half-year deal to replace Sami Hyypia. The Sky Bet Championship strugglers announced the appointment on Twitter on Wednesday morning. The 56-year-old had been out of work since being relieved of his duties by Norwich in April with the club 17th in the Barclays Premier League."

mikesiva wrote:"Chris Hughton is the new manager of Brighton after agreeing a three-and-a-half-year deal to replace Sami Hyypia. The Sky Bet Championship strugglers announced the appointment on Twitter on Wednesday morning. The 56-year-old had been out of work since being relieved of his duties by Norwich in April with the club 17th in the Barclays Premier League."